The B.C. government is honouring coaches and their immense contributions to sport and athletes throughout the province by proclaiming the week of Sept. 15-22 as B.C. Coaches Week, announced Bill Bennett, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

Coaches are key elements in every athlete's development, from the very young child through to the high-performance athlete. B.C. athletes' success in the recent London Olympic and Paralympic Games is an affirmation of the strength of British Columbia's sport system.

In addition to paying tribute to coaches throughout the province, B.C. Coaches Week focuses on the recruitment and development of coaches. Special events for coaches will be held throughout British Columbia through Coaches BC, including free National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) workshops which provide technical, leadership and mentoring skills.

Free NCCP workshops are being held in Kamloops, Revelstoke, Duncan, Barriere, Langley, Abbotsford, Penticton, Quesnel, Armstrong, Ashcroft, Salmon Arm and Port Alberni.

Quotes:

Bill Bennett, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"As someone whose character was formed as much by competitive sports as anything else in my life except my parents, I can quite easily think back to hockey, football and basketball coaches who actually changed me, who taught me about important fundamentals like discipline, winning and losing. I am a great admirer of the good coach."

Gord Hopper, president, Coaches Association of British Columbia -

"When I was a young athlete, my coaches had a tremendously positive impact on me. Now, watching my children go through sporting activities, I get such satisfaction from the gleam in their eyes when they return, inspired and motivated. Coaches week provides the tools and motivation for coaches to become their best, and helps them understand the impact they can have on young lives."

Quick Facts:

• This is the sixth annual B.C. Coaches Week.
• During the last year, B.C. has provided more than $2 million in funding for coach development.
• Since 2011, more than $100,000 has been directly targeted to develop coaches in northern British Columbia in the lead-up to the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George.
• The Coaches Association of B.C. represents approximately 40,000 coaches, 98 per cent of whom are volunteers.
• The National Coaching Certification Program is a coach-training and certification program for different sports across Canada. The Coaches Association of B.C. offers several of the multi-sport components of the competition sport stream to coaches throughout the province.

Learn More:

Coaches Association of B.C.: http://www.coachesbc.ca/coaches-week

Contacts:

Jeff Rud
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 953-3677
250 208-4028 (cell)

Heather Aussem
Member Relations and Communications Director
Coaches Association of B.C.
604 333-3600, ext. 1
haussem@coachesbc.ca